Recently, a United Airlines flight had to return to the gate after taxiing because a pregnant mother struggled to calm her two-year-old, who was crying. A fellow passenger shared this incident on social media. The mother, Emily Johnson, was seven months pregnant with her toddler in tow—quite a challenge, I must say. It’s not like toddlers come with an “off switch,” despite what some airline staff might think.
The flight ended up delayed for more than an hour just to retrieve Johnson’s bag. I can imagine that many passengers would have preferred to endure the sound of a child crying for a few minutes rather than face such a disruption. It’s becoming increasingly concerning how parents of young children are treated in these situations. Not long ago, a mother and her three kids were removed from a US Airways flight because a toddler was kicking the aisle. Can we please stop this trend, airline staff?
I remember traveling with my son, who was usually a fantastic flyer—until one fateful day when he got carsick on the way to the airport. He wasn’t crying during boarding, but as soon as we started taxiing, my calm child turned into a wailing mess. The passenger next to me rolled his eyes and muttered something unhelpful. I had already exhausted my tricks to calm him. Thankfully, a flight attendant appeared, offering to warm a bottle or assist in any way she could. Her kindness transformed a difficult situation into something manageable. To that Jet Blue flight attendant—thank you! I’m the mom who was covered in vomit and milk, and your support made a world of difference.
It’s frustrating when people say, “I don’t mind toddlers; it’s their parents that annoy me.” Parents are doing their best, and warning a pregnant woman to keep her toddler quiet? When someone figures out a foolproof way to do that, please share it. Until then, let’s show a little understanding; sometimes, calming a child is simply impossible.
For more on navigating parenthood, check out our other posts about fertility solutions at this link and insights from experts on challenges that arise during conception at this site. Additionally, IVF Babble offers excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, the treatment of parents with crying toddlers by airlines is an ongoing issue that requires reevaluation. While traveling can be stressful for families, empathy and understanding from airline staff can go a long way in making the experience more bearable for everyone involved.